On April 20, 2007, EPIC, CDD, and US PIRG filed a complaint (pdf) with the Federal Trade Commission, requesting that the Commission open an investigation into the proposed acquisition, specifically with regard to the ability of Google to record, analyze, track, and profile the activities of Internet users with data that is both personally identifiable and data that is not personally identifiable. EPIC further urged the FTC to require Google to publicly present a plan to comply with well-established government and industry privacy standards such as the OECD Privacy Guidelines. Pending the resolution of these and other issues, EPIC encouraged the FTC to halt the acquisition. The three groups filed a supplement (pdf) to the complaint with the Commission in June.

On September 17, 2007, at the National Press Club, EPIC, the Center for Digital Democracy, and US PIRG announced a second supplement (pdf) to the groups' original complaint (pdf) and subsequent supplement (pdf) with the FTC concerning the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger. The amended complaint detailed new facts supporting the conclusion that the FTC should block Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick.

The FTC has made a "second request" in its review of Google's merger with DoubleClick (the world’s largest Internet advertising technology firm). According to FTC Chair Majoras's statement (pdf) on the merger review process, "the majority of investigations in which the FTC issued a second request resulted in a merger challenge, consent order, or modification to the transaction, suggesting that the FTC generally issues second requests only when there is a strong possibility that some aspect of the investigation would violate the antitrust laws."

At a hearing on "An Examination of the Google-DoubleClick Merger and the Online Advertising Industry: What Are the Risks for Competition and Privacy?" on September 27, 2007, Sen. Herb Kohl said (pdf), "Some commentators believe that antitrust policymakers should not be concerned with these fundamental issues of privacy, and merely be content to limit their review to traditional questions of effects on advertising rates. We disagree. The antitrust laws were written more than a century ago out of a concern with the effects of undue concentrations of economic power for our society as a whole, and not just merely their effects on consumers’ pocketbooks. No one concerned with antitrust policy should stand idly by if industry consolidation jeopardizes the vital privacy interests of our ciitzens so essential to our democracy."

On December 21, 2007, the FTC approved the proposed merger without conditions in a 4-1 opinion (pdf). EPIC responded (pdf), saying that the unique circumstances of the online advertising industry required the FTC to impose privacy safeguards as a condition of the Google- Doubleclick merger. EPIC said that the FTC "had reason to act and authority to act, and failed to do so."

At a hearing before the European Parliament on January 21, 2008, EPIC President Marc Rotenberg testified (pdf) that the European Commission must establish privacy safeguards because the US Federal Trade Commission failed to do so (pdf) during the US merger review. Mr. Rotenberg also said that Google was beginning to reveal the characteristics of an "information monopolist" and that it was important for governments to act to preserve the rights of citizens and to safeguard competition and innovation in the information economy. .

States Reach $17 Million Settlement with Google Over Privacy Violations: The Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, joined by attorneys general in 36 states and the District of Columbia, has reached a $17 million settlement with Google over privacy violations. Google violated state consumer protection and privacy law by placing advertising tracking cookies on Safari browsers despite telling users that it would honor the default Safari privacy settings, which prevented the placement of such cookies. The Federal Trade Commission fined Google $22.5 million last year over similar practices which violated an earlier settlement that was the result of a complaint filed by EPIC. EPIC previously objected to the Google-DoubleClick merger on privacy grounds and specifically warned that Google’s use of Doubleclick techniques would lead to impermissible tracking of Internet users. Earlier EPIC had urged the Federal Trade Commission and other consumer protection agencies to support advertising models that are not linked to actual user identity. For more information, see EPIC: Google Buzz, EPIC: Google/DoubleClick Merger. (Nov. 18, 2013)

Google Announces Plan to Post Names and Photos of Users for Advertising Without Consent, May Violate 2011 FTC Consent Order: Google announced changes to its Terms of Service that will allow “your Profile name, Profile photo, and actions you take on Google or on third-party applications” to be used in advertisements. The changes will not require Google to seek the affirmative consent of users before putting their personal information to commercial use. Minors, however, will not be subject to the changes. A 2011 Consent Order with the Federal Trade Commission prohibits Google from making misrepresentations and requires the company to obtain user consent before disclosing information to third parties. EPIC recently objected to similar practices by Facebook that would allow the company to routinely use the names, images, and content of Facebook users for commercial advertising without consent. For more information, see EPIC: Federal Trade Commission and EPIC: In re Google. (Oct. 11, 2013)

NSA Attacked Tor, a Privacy Enhancing Network: The NSA and GCHQ have attempted to break the privacy protections of the Tor anonymity network, according to a series of documents published in The Guardian today. The documents describe the efforts of the NSA to de-anonymize Tor users by compromising their computers and Tor software with viruses. The NSA also relies on Doubleclick advertising cookies to identify Tor users. Despite their efforts, the documents reveal that the intelligence community has had limited success compromising the Tor network. One presentation, titled "Tor Stinks," concludes that they will "never be able to de-anonymize all Tor users all the time." In May 2013, EPIC filed a FOIA request seeking evidence of government interference with the Tor network. In 2000, EPIC had also filed a complaint with the FTC about Doubleclick's efforts to merge users' browsing activity with personally identifying information. And in 2007, EPIC objected to Google's acquisition of Doubleclick, warning that it would place at risk the privacy of Internet users. For more information, see EPIC v. BBG; EPIC: Privacy? Google/Doubleclick Merger. (Oct. 4, 2013)

FTC Opens Investigation into Google Advertising Dominance: The Federal Trade Commission has reportedly opened a new antitrust investigation into Google’s display advertising business. The Commission is investigating whether Google used its dominant position in the display advertising market, following the acquisition of Doubleclick, to harm competition. EPIC previously opposed Google's acquisition of online advertiser Doubleclick, which was approved by the FTC over the objection of former FTC Commissioner Pamela Harbor. EPIC later testified before the Antitrust committee on Google's growing dominance of essential Internet services. Earlier this year, the Commission closed an antitrust investigation into Google’s search practices. For more information, see EPIC: Federal trade Commission and EPIC: Google/DoubleClick. (May. 29, 2013)

FTC Closes Investigation into Google Search Bias: The Federal Trade Commission announced that it had concluded its investigation into allegedly anticompetitive practices by Google. The Commission reached a settlement with Google that would give competitors access to patents necessary to make smart phones, laptops, and other devices, and Google voluntarily agreed to stop borrowing others' content for use in its own services. On the issue of search bias, however, the Commission decided to close the investigation without taking action. Despite finding some evidence that changes to the company's search algorithm harmed competitors, the Commission said that these changes "could be plausibly justified as innovations that improved Google's product and the experience of its users." In 2011, EPIC wrote to the Commission about Google's use of Youtube search rankings to give preferential treatment to its own video content over non-Google content. EPIC had also opposed Google's acquisition of online advertiser Doubleclick, which was approved by the FTC over the objection of former FTC Commissioner Pamela Harbor. EPIC later testified before the Antitrust committee on Google's growing dominance of essential Internet services. For more information, see EPIC: Federal Trade Commission and EPIC: Google/DoubleClick. (Jan. 3, 2013)

FTC Adds Google+ to Antitrust Investigation: Bloomberg News has reported that the Federal Trade Commission has expanded its antitrust investigation of Google to include Google's social networking service, Google+. The report comes after Google announced that it would include personal data gathered from Google+ in the results of users' searches, a move that led EPIC to urge the FTC to investigate the company. EPIC said that "Google's business practices raise concerns related to both competition and the implementation of the Commission’s consent order," referring to a settlement that the FTC reached with Google that establishes new privacy safeguards for users of all Google products and services and subjects the company to regular privacy audits. Google first confirmed the FTC’s antitrust investigation in June 2011. Recently, the Senate held a hearing on Google's use of its dominance in the search market to suppress competition, and EPIC urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google's use of Youtube search rankings to give preferential treatment to its own video content over non-Google content. For more information, see EPIC: Google/DoubleClick and EPIC: Federal Trade Commission. (Jan. 13, 2012)

Google Changes Search Results, Preferences Google+ Results: Google is changing the results displayed by its search engine to include data from its social network, such as photos or blog posts made by Google+ users, as well as the public Internet. Although data from a user’s Google+ contacts is not displayed publicly, Google’s changes make the personal data of users more accessible. Users can opt out of seeing personalized search results, but cannot opt out of having their information found through Google search. Also, Google's changes come at a time when the company is facing increased scrutiny over whether it distorts search results by giving preference to its own content. Recently, the Senate held a hearing on Google's use of its dominance in the search market to suppress competition, and EPIC urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google's use of Youtube search rankings to give preferential treatment to its own video content over non-Google content. Google has also acknowledged that the FTC is investigating whether Google uses its dominance in the search field to inhibit competition in other areas. For more information, see EPIC: Google/DoubleClick. (Jan. 10, 2012)

Senate Holds Hearing on Google’s Anticompetitive Practices: Today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing "The Power of Google: Serving Consumers or Threatening Competition?” examined Google’s use of its dominance in the search market to suppress competition. The company’s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, testified on the first panel, while witnesses from Google’s rivals Yelp and Nextag appeared on the second panel. The hearing covered a wide range of issues, including search bias, Google’s proprietary search algorithm, and the downgrading of search rankings. EPIC testified before the the same committee in 2009 on Google’s growing dominance of essential Internet services, and recently sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission regarding Google’s biasing of Youtube search rankings to give preferential treatment to its own video content. For more information, see EPIC: Google/DoubleClick and EPIC: Federal Trade Commission. (Sep. 21, 2011)

Privacy Groups - "Google.com Should Link to a Privacy Policy". EPIC and a coalition of a dozen organizations, many based in California, have urged Google to include a link from its homepage to its privacy policy. In a letter to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the groups say that the Internet giant is required by California privacy law to post the link. They also point out that posting it is the"widespread practice of commmercial web sites." Press release. (June 3).

EPIC Urges Senate Committee to Press FTC on Consumer Privacy and FOIA Obligations, Proposes Budget Cut for Agency. Today, EPIC asked the Senate Commerce Committee to press the Federal Trade Commission on the Commission's failure to adequately protect consumer privacy and failure to operate transparently. EPIC highlighted the Commission's failure to require privacy safeguards as a condition of the recent Google-Doubleclick merger. EPIC also detailed the FTC's handling of FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras’ apparent conflict of interest in the merger review, and noted that the FTC has failed to disclose records relating to Jones Day's involvement in the merger review. The Senate Commerce Committee will hold hearings regarding the Commission's reauthorization on April 8, 2008. EPIC urged the Committee to cut the Commission's budget by 5% based on the Commission's lack of commitment to consumer privacy and open government. (Apr.7)

EPIC Sues Trade Commission to Compel Disclosure of Documents Concerning Jones Day's Role in US Doubleclick Merger Review. Today, EPIC filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit (pdf) challenging the Federal Trade Commission's failure to make public documents relating to the role of the Jones Day law firm in the Google-Doubleclick merger review. The lawsuit follows EPIC's original request (pdf) and subsequent administrative appeal (pdf). During the FTC merger review, Jones Day publicly stated that it represented Doubleclick (pdf). After EPIC learned that Chairman Majoras’ spouse is a Jones Day partner, EPIC moved for the recusal of the FTC Chairman, and emphasized that recusal had occurred in other similar matters involving conflicts of interest with the Jones Day firm. However, Chairman Majoras participated in the Google-Doubleclick review and voted to approve the merger without conditions, despite privacy groups' warnings that the merger would threaten consumer privacy. (Mar. 14)

European Commission Approves Google-Doubleclick Merger, But European Privacy Laws Will Apply. The European Commission today approved the proposed Google-Doubleclick merger under its competition authority. Though the Commission did not consider privacy in the merger review, it did reaffirm the obligation of Google-Doubleclick to comply with European privacy laws. "The Commission's decision to clear the proposed merger is based exclusively on its appraisal under the EU Merger Regulation. It is without prejudice to the merged entity's obligations under EU legislation in relation to the protection of individuals and the protection of privacy with regard to the processing of personal data and the Member States' implementing legislation." Last year, EPIC filed a complaint (pdf) with the US Federal Trade Commission, urging the FTC to open an investigation into the proposed acquisition, specifically with regard to the ability of Google to record, analyze, track, and profile the activities of Internet users. In January testimony (pdf) before the European Parliament, EPIC urged the European Commission to establish privacy safeguards as a condition of the merger. (Mar. 11)

EPIC Challenges Trade Commission's Failure to Produce Documents Concerning Jones Day's Role in US Doubleclick Merger Review. In a Freedom of Information Act appeal(pdf), EPIC challenged the Federal Trade Commission's failure to make public documents relating to the role of the Jones Day law firm in the Google-Doubleclick merger review. The appeal follows EPIC's original request. During the FTC review, Jones Day publicly stated that it represented Doubleclick but later denied representing Doubleclick, after EPIC learned that Chairman Majoras’ husband, John M. Majoras, is a Jones Day partner. EPIC moved for the recusal of the Chairman, and noted that recusal had occurred in other matters involving apparent conflicts of interest with the Jones Day firm. However, Chairman Majoras participated in the review and voted to approve the merger without conditions, despite privacy groups' warnings that the merger would threaten consumer privacy. (Feb. 13)

EPIC Urges European Parliament to Act on Google-Doubleclick Merger. In testimony (pdf) before the European Parliament in Brussels, EPIC President Marc Rotenberg said that the European Commission must establish privacy safeguards because the US Federal Trade Commission failed to do so (pdf) during the US merger review. Mr. Rotenberg also said that Google was beginning to reveal the characteristics of an "information monopolist" and that it was important for governments to act to preserve the rights of citizens and to safeguard competition and innovation in the information economy. (January 21)

EPIC - "Federal Trade Commission failed to address the privacy implications of the Google-Doubleclick Merger." In a detailed statement (pdf) issued today, EPIC said that the unique circumstances of the online advertising industry required the FTC to impose privacy safeguards as a condition of the Google-Doubleclick merger. EPIC said that the FTC "had reason to act and authority to act, and failed to do so." EPIC pointed out that the Commission ignored similar assessments form leaders in Congress and consumer protection agencies. EPIC said it would vigorously pursue Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the role of the Jones Day law firm in the merger review. EPIC pointed out that the FTCs decision "does not end the discussion about competition and privacy protection in the context of merger review. Consumers around the world will be impacted by the business practices of the combined entity, and the consequences will have to be addressed." Attention turns next to a hearing before the European Parliament on January 21. EPIC has been invited to testify. (December 20)

Commission Allows Google-Doubleclick Merger Without Conditions. In a 4-1 opinion (pdf), the Federal Trade Commission has approved the $3.1b Google-Doubleclick deal, saying that the proposed acquisition is "Unlikely to lessen competition." Commissioner Harbour dissented from the decision, stating that "If the Commission closes its investigation at this time, without imposing any conditions on the merger, neither the competition nor the privacy interests of consumers will have been adequately addressed." Commissioner Leibowitz, in a concurring opinion, warned that "industry participants must stop being coy and start being more forthcoming about their practices, the consumer information they collect, and how they use it" and recommended the adoption of opt-in for online services. The unconditional approval comes as a surprise following the earlier "Second Request" by the Commission which has historically indicated an intent to block a merger or impose conditions as a requirement for merger approval. EPIC and CDD have raised far-reaching objections to the merger. EPIC Statement. (December 20)

FTC Chair Dismisses Recusal Petition in Jones Day-Doubleclick Conflict of Interest Case, EPIC Files Expedited Open Government Request. FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras has refused to step down in the Commission's review of the Google-Doubleclick merger even though it was revealed this week that her husband's law firm is representing Doubleclick. EPIC and the Center for Digital Democracy have issued a statement. EPIC has also submitted a detailed Freedom of Information Act request seeking the expedited release of all documents concerning the participation of Jones Day in the Commission's review of Doubleclick as well as other matters involving consumer privacy. (December 15)

EPIC, CDD Raise New Questions About FTC Chair's Possible Conflict of Interest. Today EPIC and the Center for Digital Democracy provided new information to the Federal Trade Commission concerning Jones Day's representation of Doubleclick in the pending merger review. The new filing makes clear that statements denying Jones Day participation in the matter are flatly contradicted by an earlier posting on the firm's web site. The EPIC/CDD filing also notes that the firm has subsequently removed the relevant web pages from its web site. The groups are filing a Freedom of Information Act request for all documents at the Commission regarding the matter and notifying Congressional oversight committees. (December 13)

Republicans Seek Privacy Hearing on Google-DoubleClick Merger. A dozen Republican members of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection have requested a hearing into the privacy aspects of the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger. In a letter(pdf), the members stated that the privacy implications of the merger "are enormous" and a hearing is needed to understand how consumers' information is used and what can be done to better protect consumer privacy. In complaints (pdf) to the FTC, EPIC, the Center for Digital Democracy and US PIRG have detailed the reasons why the FTC needs to establish substantial privacy safeguards as a condition of the merger. EPIC previously testified (pdf) about the proposed merger before the Senate Judiciary Committee. (November 7)

EPIC Urges Congress to Monitor Google-Doubleclick Review. In a letter (pdf) to the Congressional Committee that funds the Federal Trade Commission, EPIC urged oversight of the Commission's review of the pending Google-Doubleclick merger. In complaints (pdf) to the FTC, EPIC, the Center for Digital Democracy and US PIRG have detailed the reasons why the FTC needs to establish substantial privacy safeguards as a condition of the merger. If the FTC fails to do so, "we believe there should be a comprehensive investigation of the factors that led to the FTC's decision." (October 26)

Congressman Calls on FTC to Critically Analyze Proposed Google-DoubleClick Merger. Today Representative Ed Towns, member of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, wrote (pdf) to FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras asking the Commission "to analyze the unique consumer protection issues raised by Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick." He urged the Commission to ask questions, including, "Could Google become so powerful that it no longer would be subject to market pressure to compete with respect to the quality of its privacy practices?" Rep. Towns said, "Section 5 of the FTC Act gives the Commission broad authority to address potential consumer harms, and I trust the Commission will use this authority to ensure that consumers' privacy interests are protected in connection with Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick." (October 26)

European Inquiry of Proposed Google-DoubleClick Merger Extended. The European Commission has extended its investigation into Google's $3.1 billion proposed merger with internet advertising company DoubleClick. The deadline has been moved from October 26 to November 13. At that time, the Commission will either approve the deal or decide to open a more in-depth regulatory review that can take up to four months. The proposed merger is also under review by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. (October 22)

Google Commands More than Half of All Searches Worldwide. Google was used for more than half of the world's 61 billion Internet searches in August, according to a report from comScore. In August, more than 750 million people 15 years old or older (about 95 percent of the global Internet audience) performed searches. Google and Google-owned YouTube accounted for 37.1 billion of the 61 billion searches. Yahoo was a distant second with 8.5 billion searches; Beijing-based Baidu.com was third with more than 3.2 billion searches; Microsoft was fourth with 2.1 billion searches, and Korea's Naver.com was fifth with 2 billion searches worldwide. (October 11)

German Data Protection Commissioner Protests Proposed Google-DoubleClick Merger. In a letter to the European Commissioner for Competition, the Data Protection Commissioner of the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein urged the rejection of the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger. "At present we have to assume that in the event of a takeover of DoubleClick the databases of that company will be integrated into those of Google, with the result that fundamental provisions of the European Data Protection Directive will be violated," said Thilo Weichert. The European Commission Directorate on Competition is currently investigating the proposed merger. (October 1)

EPIC to Senate: FTC Must Impose Privacy Standards Before Approving Google-Doubleclick Merger. In testimony (pdf) before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the pending Google-Doubleclick merger, EPIC Executive Director Marc Rotenberg said that the Federal Trade Commission should establish privacy safeguards as a condition of the merger. EPIC filed a complaint before the Commission (pdf) in April regarding the merger, similar to other complaints filed by EPIC in the Doubleclick-Abacus merger (pdf), the Microsoft Passport matter (pdf), and Choicepoint. Since the filing of the EPIC complaint, competition authorities around the world have opened investigations. (September 27)

EPIC Sets Out Case Against Google-DoubleClick Merger. In a letter to the editor of the Financial Times, EPIC Executive Director Marc Rotenberg eplained the basis for EPIC's opposition to the Google-Doubleclick merger, and noted EPIC's similar successful complaints against Microsoft Passport and databroker Choicepoint. The U.S. Senate will hold a hearing this week on the proposed merger. (September 24)

Google, Under Investigation for Violating Global Privacy Standards, Calls for New Global Privacy Standards. As Google faces opposition to the proposed acquisition of Doubleclick, Google's privacy counsel called for less restrictive global privacy standards. The company's current privacy practices are under investigation in many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe. More information about international privacy standards is available in EPIC's Privacy Law Sourcebook. (September 14)

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Investigates Google-DoubleClick Merger: On August 27, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission began a review of the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger. The ACCC sent a letter to online publishers, digital agencies and other Internet service groups asking for opinions on the effect the proposed merger would have in the Australian market. The ACCC detailed (pdf) 10 questions, including whether the deal would give Google-DoubleClick the "incentive and/or ability to foreclose: a. rival search engines; and/or b. other providers of advertising services to online advertisers and publishers." The proposed merger is also under review by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission Directorate on Competition. (August 30)

Google Sells Ads on YouTube Videos: Google has announced that it has begun selling overlay ads to select videos running on YouTube, which Google bought less than 10 months beforehand. According to the Wall Street Journal, "YouTube's new format is a semitransparent ad that appears on the bottom 20% of the video. The ad shows up after a video plays for 15 seconds, and disappears up to 10 seconds later if the viewer doesn't click on it. Viewers can either click to close the ad right away or to watch the commercial." YouTube is the most popular online video site (pdf), and Google is now its exclusive server of display rich media advertising. Google and DoubleClick now both serve display ads. (August 21)

Internet Expected to Become No. 1 Ad Medium by 2011: A new report from equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson predicts that Internet advertising will overtake television, radio and newspapers to become the No. 1 advertising medium in four years. VSS predicts that online advertising will grow by more than 21 percent per year to reach $62 billion in 2011. (August 10)

Canadian Policy Group Urges Investigation into Proposed Google-DoubleClick Merger: In a complaint (pdf) filed today, the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa requested (pdf) that the Canadian Commissioner of Competition investigate the proposed Google/DoubleClick merger "on the grounds that it is likely to prevent or lessen competition substantially in the targeted online advertising industry." CIPPIC Director Philippa Lawson said, "Through the merger, Google-DoubleClick will gain unprecedented market power, with which they can manipulate online advertising prices. Advertisers and web publishers will have no real choice but to choose Google's advertisement platforms in order to remain visible in the e-commerce market." CIPPIC cited the FTC complaint (pdf) and supplement (pdf) from EPIC, CDD and US PIRG, as well as the ongoing European investigations into the merger. (August 2)

White Paper: Googleopoly: The Google-DoubleClick Anti-Competitive Case: Scott Cleland, President of Precursor LLC (a telecom consulting firm), today released a white paper on the proposed Google/DoubleClick merger. In it, he explains how a merger between Google and DoubleClick would facilitate a de facto information access monopoly and substantially lessen competition. "With [about] 60% share of each of their respective technology platforms, search and display, technologies which are mutually-reinforcing, the combination would enable a horizontal merger to monopoly, which would harm users, advertisers and content providers with higher prices and less choice." (July 17)

Google Cookies Will Delete After Two Years If Consumer Doesn't Return to Company's Sites: Google has announced that its cookies (files that allow a Web site to record your comings and goings, usually without your knowledge or consent) will automatically delete after two years if a user doesn't return to a Google site. If a user does return within the two-year period, the cookie will "re-set" for another two years, and the "re-setting" could continue indefinitely, well past the year 2039, when the current Google cookie is set to expire. Google's data retention practices are facing scrutiny (pdf) in Europe, and the FTC is reviewing its merger with DoubleClick amid privacy and antitrust questions. (July 17)

Federal Trade Commission Approves Microsoft's Acquisition of aQuantive: The Federal Trade Commission has approved Microsoft's $6 billion acquisition of Internet advertising firm aQuantive. When reviewing mergers and acquisitions, the FTC has a 30-day Hart-Scott-Rodino Act waiting period. This period elapsed without the FTC seeking a "second request" from the two companies, which means the FTC has approved the deal. FTC has made a "second request" in its review of Google's merger with DoubleClick (the world’s largest Internet advertising technology firm). According to FTC Chair Majoras's statement (pdf) on the merger review process, "the majority of investigations in which the FTC issued a second request resulted in a merger challenge, consent order, or modification to the transaction, suggesting that the FTC generally issues second requests only when there is a strong possibility that some aspect of the investigation would violate the antitrust laws." (July 9)

European Commission Opens Inquiry into Google/DoubleClick Merger: The European Commission Directorate on Competition will review Google's $3.1 billion merger with internet advertising company DoubleClick. The news comes a few days after European consumer group BEUC sent a letter (pdf) urging Commission to investigate the merger. The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party recently expanded (pdf) an investigation of Google's data retention policies to include the policies of all search engines. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission also is reviewing the merger. (July 6)

European Consumer Groups Urge European Commission to Investigate Google: In a letter (pdf) to the European Commission, consumer organizations, including BEUC, urged an investigation into the proposed merger of Google and DoubleClick. This merger means that "Google could monopolize the on-line advertising business, thereby restricting competition and raising privacy concerns over control of consumer data," the groups said. The situation is unique because, "Never before has one single company had the market and technological power to collect and exploit so much information about what a user does on the Internet." The merger's privacy and antitrust issues have been highlighted in an FTC complaint (pdf) by EPIC, CDD and U.S. PIRG, and a letter (pdf) from the New York State Consumer Protection Board. The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has expanded (pdf) an investigation of Google to include the data retention policies of all search engines. (July 2)

FTC to Hold Town Hall Meetings on Behavioral Targeting: In a response (pdf) to a complaint (pdf) filed by CDD and US PIRG in November, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it "will hold at least one Town Hall meeting to learn more about behavioral targeting and related consumer protection issues." CDD and US PIRG's complaint urged the FTC to immediately begin investigating online advertising practices. "The data collection and interactive marketing system that is shaping the entire U.S. electronic marketplace is being built to aggressively track Internet users wherever they go, creating data profiles used in ever-more sophisticated and personalized "one-to-one" targeting schemes," the groups said. (June 22)

European Privacy Agency Expands Probe to All Search Engines: The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has announced (pdf) that it will expand its initial investigation (pdf) into Google's privacy practices, specifically its retention of personal information. The Working Party will now review "search engines in general, and scrutinize their activities from a data protection point of view, because this issue affects an ever growing number of users." In response to the Working Party's investigation, earlier this month, Google announced (pdf) that it will soon retain user data for a maximum of 18 months. The company previously announced that it would begin retaining user data for a maximum of 18 to 24 months, but the company continues to operate under its policy of retaining the information indefinitely. (June 22)

Google Easily Tops List of U.S. Search Providers: Nielsen/Netratings announced (pdf) its May U.S. Search Share Rankings and Google again tops the list, with a 56.3 percent share of U.S. searches. Yahoo was a distant second with 21.5 percent; MSN had 8.4 percent, AOL had 5.3 percent, and Ask.com had 2.0 percent. The other companies listed in the Top 10 (My Web, Comcast, EarthLink, BellSouth, and Dogpile.com) all had less than one percent share. EPIC, CDD and US PIRG have filed a complaint (pdf) and a supplement (pdf) with the Federal Trade Commission explaining the need for the Commission to consider consumer privacy interests in the context of a merger review involving the Internet's largest search profiling company and the Internet's largest targeted advertising company, DoubleClick. (June 21)

Microsoft and Yahoo Acquisitions Also Under FTC Review: The FTC is reviewing two more large online-ad deals. Microsoft has bid $6 billion for digital maketing firm aQuantive, and Yahoo paid $680 million for the 80% of ad-exchange operator Right Media Inc. that Yahoo didn't already own. Microsoft and Yahoo are undergoing the initial FTC reviews under the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust law, but have not been asked to submit more information for a "second request." FTC is currently investigating Google's merger with DoubleClick (the world’s largest Internet advertising technology firm) and has made a "second request" in that review. According to FTC Chair Majoras's statement (pdf) on the merger review process, "the majority of investigations in which the FTC issued a second request resulted in a merger challenge, consent order, or modification to the transaction, suggesting that the FTC generally issues second requests only when there is a strong possibility that some aspect of the investigation would violate the antitrust laws." (June 15)

Google Cuts Retention Time, But Privacy Problems Remain: Google will cut the period that it retains user data from a maximum of 24 months to a maximum of 18 months, the company said in a letter (pdf) to the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party. Last month, the Working Party began to investigate (pdf) Google's privacy practices and asked whether the company has "fulfilled all the necessary requirements" to abide by EU privacy rules. In its letter, Google did not adequately explain why it needed to retain user data for 18 or 24 months, except to vaguely say that the data would help Google build new services, possibly help prevent fraud and abuse, and that the U.S. and EU member states might impose a 24-month retention requirement. Privacy International has ranked Google's privacy policies dead last among 23 top Internet companies, including AOL and Microsoft. For more information see EPIC's page on International Data Retention. (June 12)

Google Ranks Dead Last on Privacy Among Top Net Companies, Privacy International Reports: In a report released Saturday, Privacy International assigned Google its lowest possible grade, finding the company's privacy practices are the worst among Internet service companies. Not one of the other 22 companies surveyed (including AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo) "comes close to achieving status as an endemic threat to privacy" as Google, said Privacy International. The group cited the privacy issues raised by the Google/DoubleClick merger, which have been highlighted by in an FTC complaint (pdf) by EPIC, CDD and US PIRG, and a letter (pdf) from the New York State Consumer Protection Board. The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has launched an investigation (pdf) into Google's data retention policies. (June 11)

Privacy Groups File Amended Complaint with FTC Regarding Google/DoubleClick Merger: EPIC, CDD, and US PIRG today filed a supplement (pdf) to the groups' original complaint (pdf) with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning the Google/DoubleClick merger. The new complaint explains the need for the FTC to consider consumer privacy interests in the context of a merger review involving the Internet's largest search profiling company and the Internet's largest targeted advertising company. The complaint provides additional evidence about Google and DoubleClick's business practices that fail to comply with generally accepted privacy safeguards, and proposes further steps that the Commission should take if the merger is to be approved. (June 6)

SEC Filing Reveals Google Subject to "Second Request" - Challenge, Order or Modification to Acquistion of Doubleclick Under Consideration: A recent filing with the Security and Exchange Commission indicates that the FTC "has issued a request for additional information and documentary materials regarding the proposed acquisition of" Doubleclick. According to FTC Chair Majoras's statement (pdf) on the merger review process, "the majority of investigations in which the FTC issued a second request resulted in a merger challenge, consent order, or modification to the transaction, suggesting that the FTC generally issues second requests only when there is a strong possibility that some aspect of the investigation would violate the antitrust laws." On April 20, EPIC, CDD and U.S. PIRG filed a complaint (pdf) with the FTC, requesting that the Commission open an investigation into the proposed acquisition. (May 30)

European Privacy Agency Opens Investigation Into Google: The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has launched an investigation (pdf) into Google's privacy practices and specifically its retention of personal information. The Working Party has asked Google whether the company has "fulfilled all the necessary requirements" to abide by EU privacy rules. European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini is backing the investigation. Last month EPIC filed a complaint (pdf) at the Federal Trade Commission recommending that that Commission block Google's proposed acquisition of online advertising company DoubleClick. EPIC said that Google has failed to establish basic privacy safeguards. The New York State Consumer Protection Board has also recommended (pdf) that that merger be blocked. (May 25)

New York State Consumer Protection Board endorses EPIC's Google/DoubleClick Complaint: The New York State Consumer Protection Board has sent a letter (pdf) to the FTC endorsing EPIC's recent complaint (pdf) regarding the privacy implications of the Google/DoubleClick merger. The Board stated, "[t]he combination of DoubleClick's Internet surfing history generated through consumers' pattern of clicking on specific advertisements, coupled with Google's database of consumers' past searches, will result in the creation of "super-profiles," which will make up the world's single largest repository of both personally and non-personally identifable information." The Board expressed concern that these profiles expose consumers to the risk of disclosure of their data to third-parties, as well as public disclosure as evidence in litigation or through data breaches. The Board urged the FTC to halt the merger until it has fully investigated Google's planned use of DoubleClick's data post-merger. (May 9)

DoubleClick Statement Regarding Data Ownership: On April 20, DoubleClick released a statement regarding data ownership in response to EPIC's complaint (pdf) with the FTC. DoubleClick stated that the data collected by its online display advertising technology (DART) could not be used by Google, or combined with information owned by Google. DoubleClick stated that such collected information belongs to DoubleClick's clients and not to DoubleClick. (April 20)

EPIC Files Complaint With FTC Regarding Google/DoubleClick Merger: On April 20, EPIC filed a complaint (pdf) with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging the Commission to open an investigation into the proposed acquisition, specifically with regard to the ability of Google to record, analyze, track, and profile the activities of Internet users with data that is both personally identifiable and data that is not personally identifiable. EPIC further urged the FTC to require Google to publicly present a plan to comply with well-established government and industry privacy standards such as the OECD Privacy Guidelines. Pending the resolution of these and other issues, EPIC encouraged the FTC to halt the acquisition. (April 20)

Google Announces Agreement to Acquire DoubleClick: Google has announced an agreement to acquire online advertising giant DoubleClick, Inc. for $3.1 billion. See Google's Press Release on the agreement. Google has already expressed an intent to merge data from Google and DoubleClick to profile and target Internet users. (April 13, 2007)

EPIC's Complaint

On April 20, 2007, EPIC, CDD, and US PIRG filed a complaint (pdf) with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging the Commission to open an investigation into the proposed acquisition of DoubleClick by Google. The groups urged the FTC to assesses the ability of Google to record, analyze, track, and profile the activities of Internet users with data that is both personally identifiable and data that is not personally identifiable. The groups stressed that the increased collection of personal information of Internet users by Internet advertisers poses far-reaching privacy concerns that the FTC should address. The groups further noted that Google fails to follow previously agreed upon standards for online advertising conduct, and urged the FTC to to require Google to publicly present a plan to comply with these standards. Pending the resolution of these and other issues, EPIC encouraged the FTC to halt the acquisition.

EPIC's June 2007 Supplement to the Original Complaint

On June 6, 2007, EPIC, CDD, and US PIRG filed a supplement (pdf) to the groups' original complaint (pdf) with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning the Google/DoubleClick merger. The new complaint explains the need for the FTC to consider consumer privacy interests in the context of a merger review involving the Internet's largest search profiling company and the Internet's largest targeted advertising company. The complaint provides additional evidence about Google and DoubleClick's business practices that fail to comply with generally accepted privacy safeguards, and proposes further steps that the Commission should take if the merger is to be approved.

EPIC's September 2007 Supplement to the Original Complaint

On September 17, 2007, at the National Press Club, EPIC, the Center for Digital Democracy, and US PIRG announced a second supplement (pdf) to the groups' original complaint (pdf) and subsequent supplement (pdf) with the FTC concerning the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger. The amended complaint detailed new facts supporting the position that "Google and DoubleClick have engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act [. . . and] Google and DoubleClick have failed to establish adequate privacy safeguards to protect the interests of Internet users." The groups said, "[P]ending the establishment in fact of such protection, the Commission should block the proposed merger."

FTC Authority to Act

The FTC's primary enforcement authority with regards to privacy is derived from 15 U.S.C. § 45, commonly known as section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA). Section 5 of the FTCA allows the FTC to investigate "unfair methods of competition in or affecting commerce, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce." Although this law does not grant the FTC specific authority to protect privacy, over the last number of years it has been used to bring public attention to significant privacy issues and to provide a legal basis so as to reform business activities that threaten consumer privacy.

Antitrust Experts on Privacy Review by FTC

"Some commentators believe that antitrust policymakers should not be concerned with these fundamental issues of privacy, and merely be content to limit their review to traditional questions of effects on advertising rates. We disagree. The antitrust laws were written more than a century ago out of a concern with the effects of undue concentrations of economic power for our society as a whole, and not just merely their effects on consumers’ pocketbooks. No one concerned with antitrust policy should stand idly by if industry consolidation jeopardizes the vital privacy interests of our ciitzens so essential to our democracy." Sen. Herb Kohl (PDF) at a hearing on "An Examination of the Google-DoubleClick Merger and the Online Advertising Industry: What Are the Risks for Competition and Privacy?," September 27, 2007.

"Albert A. Foer, president of the American Antitrust Institute, said the government has historically avoided taking non-competition issues into account when reviewing mergers. Still, he noted that the FTC is a consumer protection agency and may 'very well' be interested in hearing privacy concerns."Albert A. Foer, president of the American Antitrust Institute. Alexei Alexis, FTC Exam of Google-DoubleClick Deal Should Order Use of ‘Opt-In’ Data Policy, Groups Say, Electronic Commerce & Law, Vol. 12, No. 24, June 13, 2007.

"The issues [antitrust and privacy] are not unrelated, in that one of the claims of the opponents of the deal is that giving the combined entity access to the data gathered by both companies not only creates a privacy problem, but also creates a barrier to entry to others who want to compete in the Internet advertising business." Brokerage Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. Google-DoubleClick Goes to the FTC: Approval Still Looks Likely, But Potential for Privacy Conditions Rises (PDF), Washington Telecom, Media, & Tech Insider, June 1, 2007.

"The privacy concern is, 'Will one entity have so much control that the information is going to be centralized?,' " said Andrew Klevorn, an antitrust attorney with Eimer Stahl in Chicago. "Will they have too much informational power?" Google comes under scrutiny, San Francisco Chronicle, May 30, 2007.

"The privacy issue is also the competitive issue," said Blair Levin, an analyst at brokerage Stifel, Nicolaus. "The biggest barrier to entry is not money or engineers or the networks, but the information on the behavior of people on the Internet." FTC study of Google purchase may focus on privacy, Los Angeles Times, May 30, 2007.

"The combination of DoubleClick's Internet surfing history generated through consumers' pattern of clicking on specific advertisements, coupled with Google's database of consumers' past searches, will result in the creation of 'super-profiles,' which will make up the world's single largest repository of both personally and non-personally identifiable information," Mindy Bockstein, executive director of the NY State Consumer Protection Board. "In the best interest of consumers, we call for a halt to the merger until the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") has fully investigated Google's planned use of the data post-merger." Letter from NY State Consumer Protection Board to FTC Urging Delay of Google/Doubleclick Merger (PDF), May 1, 2007.

"We think antitrust authorities should take a hard look at this deal and the implications," said Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president for external affairs at AT&T. "If any one company gets a hammerlock on the online advertising space, as Google seems to be trying to do, that is worrisome." Microsoft Urges Review of Google-DoubleClick Deal, New York Times, April 16, 2007.

"This proposed acquisition raises serious competition and privacy concerns in that it gives the Google-DoubleClick combination unprecedented control in the delivery of online advertising and access to a huge amount of consumer information by tracking what customers do online," Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith said. "We think this merger deserves close scrutiny from regulatory authorities to ensure a competitive online-advertising market." Companies want scrutiny of Google-DoubleClick deal, CNet News.com, April 15, 2007.

Impact of Search Engines

Internet search engines, such as those offered by Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft, are the primary means by which individuals access content on the Internet. Search terms entered into the main Google search engine alone may reveal a plethora of personal information such as an individual's medical issues, associations, religious beliefs, political preferences, sexual orientation, and investments monitored. In 2005, more than 60 million American adults used search engines on a typical day. The number is no doubt much higher today.

FTC Review of EPIC DoubleClick Complaint (2000 - 2001)

The Federal Trade Commission has previously investigated DoubleClick Inc. for violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act. On February 10, 2000, EPIC filed a complaint with the FTC concerning the information collection practices of DoubleClick. EPIC alleged that DoubleClick was unlawfully tracking the online activities of Internet users and combining surfing records with detailed personal profiles contained in a national marketing database. EPIC asked the FTC to investigate the practices of the company, to destroy all records wrongfully obtained, to invoke civil penalties, and to enjoin the firm from violating the Federal Trade Commission Act. On February 14, 2000, DoubleClick revealed in a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the FTC was investigating the company's privacy practices.

On March 2, 2000, DoubleClick CEO Kevin O'Connor released a statement that said that the company made a "mistake by planning to merge names with anonymous user activity across Web sites in the absence of government and industry privacy standards."' The FTC investigation into the company's privacy practices continued.

On January 22, 2001, the FTC released a letter announcing that it had closed its investigation of DoubleClick. The letter listed a number of commitments DoubleClick agreed to make, including a commitment to abide by the NAI Privacy Principles.

Google's Business Practices

Google operates the largest Internet search engine in the United States. According to a comScore press release, Google captured almost 50% of the U.S. search engine market in March 2007, with approximately 3.5 billion search queries were performed on Google web sites. Google's services include:

Google Checkout: credit card/payment information for use on other sites.

Google stores its users' search terms in connection with their Internet Protocol (IP) address, a unique string of numbers that identifies each individual computer connected to the Internet. When a user enters a search term into Google's search engine, Google's servers automatically log the user's web request, IP address, browser type, browser language, the date and time of the request and one or more cookies that may uniquely identify the user's browser. As a user's Web request includes the requested search term, Google's logs link a user's personally-identifiable IP address with their search terms. A January 2006 poll of 1,000 Google users found that 89% of respondents think their search terms are kept private, and 77% believed that Google searches do not reveal their personal identities. These numbers indicate that Google's practices violate the public's expectation of privacy with respect to the collection and use of search history data. Though Google tracks its users' search activity in connection with their IP address, Google does not currently use this data to engage in behavioral targeting.

DoubleClick's Business Practices

DoubleClick is a leading provider of Internet-based advertising. The company places advertising messages on Web sites. DoubleClick reaches an estimated 80 to 85 percent of the users of Internet. Its customers include Time Warner's AOL and Viacom's MTV Networks.

DoubleClick tracks the individual Internet users who receive ads served through DoubleClick. When a user is first "served" an ad, DoubleClick assigns the user a unique number and records that number in a "cookie" file stored on the user's computer. As that user subsequently visits other Web sites on which DoubleClick serves ads, he or she is identified and recorded as having viewed each ad. DoubleClick stores a user's history for two years. Using the unique numbers contained in cookies, DoubleClick's "DART" (Dynamic, Advertising, Reporting, and Targeting) technology enables advertisers to target and deliver ads to Web users based on pre-selected criteria.

Google and Privacy

According to comScore, three out of every 10 (30.1 percent) of U.S. Internet users streamed video from YouTube.com, recently acquired by Google, in March 2007 alone. YouTube Chief Marketing Officer Suzie Reider recently revealed that YouTube will expand the amount of user demographic data it retains later this year. Reider stated, "We'll never have had [sic] that much data about that much content. [. . .] By Q3 we'll have a tremendous amount of metrics and data around every video. There's lots you can glean from looking at who's looking at what. It's a real-time focus group that happens all day, every day." (quote from AdAge).

European Review of Google Merger

On May 16, 2007, the European Union's Article 29 Data Protection Working Party launched an investigation into Google's privacy practices. In a letter (pdf) to Google, chair of the Article 29 Working Party, Peter Schaar asked whether the company has "fulfilled all the necessary requirements" to abide by EU privacy rules. Mr. Schaar explained, "As you are aware, server logs are information that can be linked to an identified or identifiable natural person and can, therefore, be considered personal data in the meaning of Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. For that reason, their collection and storage must respect data protection rules." EU Directive 95/46/EC states that individuals' personal information can only be collected for "specified, explicit and legitimate purposes." Information that is collected can only be kept in identifiable form for as long as is "necessary for the purposes for which the data were collected or for which they are further processed."

Earlier this year, Google announced that it was changing its privacy policy, and would maintain user-specific information from Web searches for a period of 18 to 24 months. Google previously stored this information for as long as it was useful. After the 18- to 24-month period, the company claims that it will obscure the data, making it more difficult to identify individuals. This change "does not seem to meet the requirements of the European legal data protection framework," Mr. Schaar wrote. The Working Party requested a detailed explanation from Google as to 1) "why this long storage period was chosen" for the server logs, 2) "the purposes for which server logs need to be kept," and 3) "Google's legal justification for the storage of server logs in general." Also, the Working Party questioned whether the 30-year lifetime of the "Google cookie," which tracks users, "goes beyond what seems to be 'strictly necessary' for the provision of the service."

Mr. Schaar pointed to the "Resolution on Privacy Protection and Search Engines," (pdf) which urged data minimization and addressed several issues with regard to server logs and the detailed profiling of users. "The Article 29 Working Party fully supports this Resolution and would appreciate the detailed views of Google on the steps which it has taken to fully implement its recommendations." The Working Party will discuss the investigation into Google's privacy practices at its meeting in June and requested that the company respond before then. European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini is backing the investigation.

In a September 26, 2007 letter to the European Commissioner for Competition, the Data Protection Commissioner of the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein urged the rejection of the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger. "At present we have to assume that in the event of a takeover of DoubleClick the databases of that company will be integrated into those of Google, with the result that fundamental provisions of the European Data Protection Directive will be violated," said Thilo Weichert.

The European Parliament will hold a hearing on the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger on January 21, 2008. EPIC has been invited to testify.

FTC Review of EPIC Microsoft Passport Complaint (2001 - 2002)

On July 26, 2001, EPIC and twelve organizations submitted a complaint (pdf) to the FTC, detailing serious privacy implications of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Passport. The complaint alleged that Microsoft "has engaged, and is engaging, in unfair and deceptive trade practices intended to profile, track, and monitor millions of Internet users," and that the company's collection and use of personal information violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

After Microsoft announced a series of changes to Windows XP and Passport in response to the complaint, EPIC et al. submitted a supplement (pdf) to the FTC further detailing specific ways Microsoft XP and Passport would harm consumer interests.

The privacy and security risks outlined in the complaint were: facilitation of online profiling through a sign on requirement into Passport in order to view web content; covert sharing of consumer's personal information within the MSN network; an increase in the amount of unsolicited commercial e-mail from the sharing of e-mail addresses within the MSN network (with no option for the consumer to opt-out of such a system); and Microsoft's failure to establish adequate security standards to ensure that personal information held by Microsoft, such as credit card data, were protected from disclosure to a third party.

In August 2002, the FTC announced a settlement in its privacy enforcement action against Microsoft. The settlement required that Microsoft establish a comprehensive information security program for Passport, and prohibited any misrepresentation of its practices regarding information collection and usage.

The agreement was significant because the FTC did not uncover any security breaches, but acted nonetheless based on the potential for a security problem. This action demonstrated that the FTC has the authority to protect online privacy, and that the commission will hold companies to a very high standard in their representations to consumers about privacy policies. Since the FTC settlement of the EPIC complaint against Passport, industry groups have moved toward decentralized
identity systems that are more robust, provide more security, and are better for privacy. For more information, see EPIC's page on Microsoft Passport Investigation Docket.

FTC Review of EPIC ChoicePoint Complaint (2004-2006)

In December 2004, EPIC filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against databroker ChoicePoint. EPIC urged the agency to investigate the compilation and sale of personal dossiers by data brokers such as ChoicePoint. EPIC argued that the dossiers may constitute "consumer reports" for purposes of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, thus subjecting both the information seller and the buyer to regulation under the Act. Furthermore, EPIC argued that it is incumbent upon the Commission to analyze whether the sale of these dossiers circumvents the Act, giving businesses, private investigators, and law enforcement access to data that previously had been subjected to Fair Information Practices.

In February 2005, EPIC supplemented the ChoicePoint complaint and raised three additional issues relevant to the rise of commercial databrokers. First, an article written by Robert O'Harrow Jr. of the Washington Post quoted ChoicePoint representatives saying that the company acts like an "intelligence agency" and that the data industry should be subject to new regulations because of how personal information is being used. O'Harrow's article demonstrated the reliance on commercial data brokers for decision-making, and the growing importance that the brokers' data be accurate and their practices accountable to the public. Second, the letter included a dialogue from Declan McCullagh's Politechbot.com mailing list concerning the December 2004 complaint. A list message from a private investigator who uses ChoicePoint noted that the company maintains an audit trail of clients who access personal information. The EPIC supplement points out that law enforcement users are not subject to the audit trails, and that EPIC is unaware of a single case where a commercial databroker has turned in a user for prosecution as a result of an audit showing prohibited use of the service. Last, the EPIC supplement included a transcript of a recent television broadcast, "Someone's Watching," that aired on Dec. 18, 2004, on the Discovery Times Channel. The broadcast shows two private investigators using a commercial databroker to access a stranger's Social Security Number, employment details, and other information without any legal justification.

In 2005, based on the EPIC complaint, the FTC alleged (pdf) that ChoicePoint did not have reasonable procedures to screen and verify prospective businesses for lawful purposes and as a result compromised the personal financial records of more than 163,000 customers in its database. Because of this breach, the FTC alleged that ChoicePoint violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by furnishing the financial records to subscribers that did not have a permissible purpose to obtain them. The FTC additionally alleged that ChoicePoint engaged in unfair or deceptive practices in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

In January 2006, the FTC announced a settlement (pdf) with ChoicePoint, requiring the company to pay $10 million in civil penalties and provide $5 millions for consumer redress. It is the largest civil penalty in FTC history. ChoicePoint was also required to verify, "(1) the business identity of the subscriber, and (2) that the subscriber is a legitimate business engaged in the business certified and has a permissible purpose for obtaining consumer reports." The FTC also required ChoicePoint to establish, implement, and maintain "a comprehensive information security program that is reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of the personal information it collects from or about consumers."

Additional Parties to the Complaint

Center for Digital Democracy
The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) is a nonprofit organization working to ensure that the digital media systems serve the public interest. CDD is committed to preserving the openness and diversity of the Internet in the broadband era, and to realizing the full potential of digital communications through the development and encouragement of noncommercial, public interest programming. For more information on CDD's position on the Google/DoubleClick merger, visit CDD's Jeff Chester's blog entries on the subject.

U.S. Public Interest Research Group
The U.S. Public Research Group (U.S. PIRG) serves as both the federal advocacy office for and the federation of non-profit, non-partisan state Public Interest Research Groups, with over one million members nationwide. U.S. PIRG is a strong supporter of fair, competitive marketplace practices, including compliance with the OECD Guidelines for the Protection of Privacy.

EPIC, Letter to the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government urging the committee to monitor the FTC review of the proposed merger (PDF), October 26, 2007.

Representative Ed Towns, member of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Letter to FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras urging a critical review of the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger (PDF), October 26, 2007.

Thilo Weichert, Data Protection Commissioner of the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Letter to the European Commissioner for Competition urging the rejection of the proposed Google-DoubleClick merger, September 26, 2007.